August 21st 2024.
On the second night of the Democratic National Convention, the spotlight was on Vice President Kamala Harris as she received validation from former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. They were joined by the grandsons of past presidents, portraying Harris as the natural heir of Democratic leaders. This was a groundbreaking moment for Harris as the first woman of color to be the party's nominee. It was also a recognition that this presidential election is expected to be very close.
The Obamas didn't hold back in their speeches, lashing out at Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Michelle Obama, who had previously urged Democrats to take the high road when faced with negativity, seemed to have changed her tune as she took a personal swipe at Trump. Her husband also didn't shy away from calling out the 78-year-old billionaire, who he described as someone who hasn't stopped complaining since his infamous golden escalator ride nine years ago.
While the main purpose of a political convention is to nominate candidates, the Democrats took this opportunity to showcase their lively and diverse party. The roll call of states turned into a raucous dance party, with each state's vote being announced alongside a song that represented them. There were also powerful moments when states passed the mic to individuals with personal stories, such as a survivor of the Las Vegas shooting announcing Nevada's votes.
The convention also featured a speech from Doug Emhoff, Harris' husband, who shared their love story in an effort to connect with voters. He spoke adoringly of her, countering Trump's criticism of her laughter. As Harris flew back to Chicago from a rally in Milwaukee, she made sure to watch her husband's speech, spending an extra 10 minutes in the air.
The Democrats are also making a play for disaffected Trump voters, using former White House staffer Stephanie Grisham to make their case. Grisham, who worked in various roles in the Trump administration, spoke about her decision to leave due to Trump's lack of empathy, morals, and truthfulness. She was joined by other Republicans, such as a Trump voter from Alabama and a Republican mayor from Arizona, who shared their reasons for supporting Harris.
One of the main messages of the convention was the Democrats' warnings about what might happen in a second Trump term. This was represented by the oversized tome of the Project 2025 policy book from the conservative Heritage Foundation, which was brandished by speakers each day. Democrats used this as a potent symbol of their concerns about potential changes to civil service rules and other proposals from the Trump administration. Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters both mentioned the initiative, with Harris even joking about it at a rally in Milwaukee. This shows the weight and significance that Democrats are placing on this issue.
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